Congressional Record, Volume 149 Issue 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)

[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4272-H4273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ENHANCING COOPERATION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1911) to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance
cooperation and the sharing of resources between the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 1911

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment of Joint Committee.--(1) Chapter 3 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:

``Sec. 320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of
Defense Joint Executive Committee

``(a) Joint Executive Committee.--(1) There is established
an interagency committee to be known as the Department of
Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive
Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the
`Committee').
``(2) The Committee is composed of--
``(A) the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and such
other officers and employees of the Department of Veterans
Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may designate;
and
``(B) the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness and such other officers and employees of the
Department of Defense as the Secretary of Defense may
designate.
``(b) Administrative Matters.--(1) The Deputy Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary of Defense shall
determine the size and structure of the Committee, as well as
the administrative and procedural guidelines for the
operation of the Committee.
``(2) The two Departments shall supply appropriate staff
and resources to provide administrative support and services.
Support for such purposes shall be provided at a level
sufficient for the efficient operation of the Committee,
including a subordinate Health Executive Committee, a
subordinate Benefits Executive Committee, and such other
committees or working groups as considered necessary by the
Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary.
``(c) Recommendations.--(1) The Committee shall recommend
to the Secretaries strategic direction for the joint
coordination and sharing efforts between and within the two
Departments under section 8111 of this title and shall
oversee implementation of those efforts.
``(2) The Committee shall submit to the two Secretaries and
to Congress an annual report containing such recommendations
as the Committee considers appropriate.
``(d) Functions.--In order to enable the Committee to make
recommendations in its annual report under subsection (c)(2),
the Committee shall do the following:
``(1) Review existing policies, procedures, and practices
relating to the coordination and sharing of resources between
the two Departments.
``(2) Identify changes in policies, procedures, and
practices that, in the judgment of the Committee, would
promote mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of
use of services and resources of the two Departments, with
the goal of improving the quality, efficiency and
effectiveness of the delivery of benefits and services to
veterans, service members, military retirees and their
families through an enhanced Department of Veterans Affairs
and Department of Defense partnership.
``(3) Identify and assess further opportunities for the
coordination and collaboration between the Departments that,
in the judgment of the Committee, would not adversely affect
the range of services, the quality of care, or the
established priorities for benefits provided by either
Department.
``(4) Review the plans of both Departments for the
acquisition of additional resources, especially new
facilities and major equipment and technology, in order to
assess the potential effect of such plans on further
opportunities for the coordination and sharing of resources.
``(5) Review the implementation of activities designed to
promote the coordination and sharing of resources between the
Departments.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint
Executive Committee.''.

(b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Subsection (c) of section
8111 of such title is repealed.
(2) Such section is further amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``subsection (c)''
and inserting ``section 320 of this title'';
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``Committee
established in subsection (c)'' and inserting ``Department of
Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive
Committee'';
(C) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``Committee under
subsection (c)(2)'' and inserting ``Department of Veterans
Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee with
respect to health care resources''; and
(D) in subsection (f)(2), by striking subparagraphs (B) and
(C) and inserting the following:
``(B) The assessment of further opportunities identified by
the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense
Joint Executive Committee under subsection (d)(3) of section
320 of this title for the sharing of health-care resources
between the two Departments.
``(C) Any recommendation made by that committee under
subsection (c)(2) of that section during that fiscal year.''.
(c) Technical Amendments.--Subsection (f) of such section
is further amended by inserting ``(Public Law 107-314)'' in
paragraphs (3), (4)(A), (4)(B), and (5) after ``for Fiscal
Year 2003''.
(d) Effective Date.--(1) If this Act is enacted before
October 1, 2003--
(A) section 320 of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2003; and
(B) the amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) shall
take effect on October 1, 2003, immediately after the
amendment made by section 721(a)(1) of the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law
107-314; 116 2589).
(2) If this Act is enacted on or after October 1, 2003, the
amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date
of the enactment of this Act.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, for many years, the Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Defense have been obligated by law to share health care
resources. Congress enacted the original sharing law, Public Law 19-
174, in 1982. Through a series of hearings and business meetings, our
committee found that the law was being unevenly implemented and that
much more could be done.
Congress recently reemphasized its commitment to this policy when it
passed sections 721 to 726 of the Bob Stump National Defense
Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003. Although our committee found
evidence that sharing is working very well in some locations, the two
Departments have never made a strong commitment to sharing and planning
future health care activities. There are many reasons that the two
Departments have not shared as much as they could, but we have found in
general that there was a lack of committed leadership to implementing
the goals of sharing.
The original sharing legislation established a VA-DOD committee to
review policies and practices related to sharing of health resources.
This committee was charged with identifying new or potential
opportunities and making recommendations to VA, DOD and Congress. Our
oversight activities revealed the joint committee had not achieved its
full potential, and we made a number of changes to the committee's
charge last year.
The significance of H.R. 1911 is that it would expand the purposes
for which the original joint committee was

[[Page H4273]]

formed. It is not just health care where coordination and sharing is
needed. There is a substantial amount of information that DOD maintains
that is essential for the administration of various benefits, programs
such as the Montgomery GI bill and disability compensation. Clearly,
the government can be more responsive to future veterans and claims for
benefits they earned if the two Departments can exchange information
accurately and quickly.
H.R. 1911 would also increase flexibility for the joint committee to
make recommendations in mutual interest areas. The committee would also
be permitted to assess policy changes in both Departments in order to
advance services and opportunities for the future. As a result, a more
efficient system of delivery of health care and benefits to VA and DOD
beneficiaries should evolve.
This is a goal I know both VA and DOD share, to provide continuity of
care, prompt access to earned benefits, and better service to our
current and former service members.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of H.R. 1911, which would
elevate an advisory committee created in last year's defense
authorization. H.R. 1911 would elevate the charter of the joint
executive committee established between the Department of Defense and
the VA to review activities Departmentwide, rather than simply limiting
its charter to health care.
We are pleased that the Department has asked for this authority. I
appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith)
on the bill we are going to consider today, and I thank the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Simmons), and their ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Rodriguez).
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the committee for bringing
this needed legislation to the floor. I also thank the Deputy Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Leo McKay, and David Chu of the Department of
Defense for their leadership on this.
We have several key projects that put together DOD and VA health
care: at Kirtland, in Las Vegas, and in my own congressional district
of North Chicago. These projects help us realize fundamental facts: 15
million Americans have served our country in uniform, with 25 million
of them still alive today and in need of VA care. But in many parts of
this country, combining DOD and VA projects can help improve the care
both of veterans and active duty personnel alike.
In my district, the North Chicago VA Medical Center and the Great
Lakes Naval Hospital are combining. During the last administration,
there were two attempts to close the North Chicago VA Hospital, but on
June 19, 2001, VA released a capital asset realignment enhanced
services study. That study pointed the way towards combining these two
institutions, offering better health care for the veterans of northern
Illinois.
I want to applaud the committee for bringing this legislation forward
which codifies the existing agreements between DOD and VA and also
enhances their ability to work in other places. Later on in this week,
we will have the opportunity to increase the authorized level of
spending that the DOD spends on its cooperative programs with the VA. I
hope the House not only adopts this legislation overwhelmingly but that
amendment as well. Our veterans and our active duty would both benefit
from that.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1911.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.
1911, a bill to amend Title 38 of the United States Code, to enhance
cooperation and the sharing of resources between the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. I support this bill
because I support the men and women of our military whether they are
currently enlisted or veterans.
H.R. 1911 establishes an interagency committee to be called the
Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive
Committee. The Joint Executive Committee will operate with the goal of
``improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery
of benefits and services to veterans, service members, military
retirees and their families through an enhanced Department of Veterans
Affairs and Department of Defense partnership.''
Both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense
provide valuable services to help our service men and women. The
Department of Veterans Affairs administers the laws the provide
benefits and other services to veterans and their families. The
Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for insuring our veterans
receive the medical care, benefits, social support, and memorials they
so rightfully deserve after their valiant service to our America. The
Department of Defense coordinate the activities of our activities of
our armed services branches and ensures the professional and safe
operations of our currently enlisted soldiers.
America's heroes are America's soldiers. The remarkable talent,
bravery, and sacrifice of our military personnel was illustrated in the
recent War in Iraq. We celebrated the safe return of our military
personnel and we will revere them as veterans.
I support H.R. 1911 because the cooperative efforts of the
Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to improve the quality of
life for our soldiers and veterans. For example, Veterans Affairs and
the Department of Defense are presently collaborating in the Defense
Department's Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office to account for
our missing-in-action from all of America's wars, and to provide case-
specific information to their next-of-kin.
H.R. 1911, and the collaboration between the Department of Veterans
Affairs and the Department of Defense, will establish better health
services, benefits, and other programs for our soldiers and veterans. I
support this bill because I support our soldiers and our veterans. They
are our heroes.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1911.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.

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